I wasn’t sure whether to entitle this week’s offering for In a Vase on Monday “Instant Replay,” “I’ve Heard That Song Before,” or “Play it Again, Sam.” So I decided to just keep it simple…both the title and the arrangement. Once again I put my Arranger to the test.

Not much has changed in my garden since last Monday’s vase (which is still quite presentable, by the way), but I am personally rejuvenated by the return of warmer weather and sunshine…oh that lovely sunshine. Warm and bright not withstanding, I must still resort to foliage if I am to be loyal to my commitment to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden to participate in her meme each week this year. The pansies and the violas are coming around, but they just aren’t there yet. Some of you may recognize a few old friends in this arrangement.

In the cobalt blue container are Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia,’ rosemary, Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream,’ and Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow. The accent is a small group of cuttings from Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Golconda.’ The aucuba cultivar ‘Crotonifolia’ is making its first appearance in this series. It was banished to the “hospital” in the woods several years ago when it was languishing in one of the borders (too much sun, perhaps?); it has recovered and is thriving in its new location.

‘Golconda’ ‘Ascot Rainbow’ ‘Crotonifolia’

I moved the arrangement to another location in seeking different lighting and found the results rather pleasing.

The 1974 woodblock print is “Tasteful (No 6)” by the late Rikio Takahashi (高橋力雄), an acquisition we made when we lived in Tokyo. My Arranger, true to form, suggested just the right location so that the arrangement and the print complement each other.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

About johnvic8

John Viccellio retired after 24 years in the U. S. Navy and began to dig into gardening when he could finally land in one place. He completed the Master Gardener course in 1992 and has since designed and constructed two of his own gardens. He wrote a monthly garden column for ten years and has been a regular contributor to Carolina Gardener magazine. John published his first book, Guess What's in My Garden!, in 2014.
He lives in Stallings, NC with his wife, in close proximity to seven of his eight grandchildren.

What great selection of foliage, John – and a wonderful example of a vase without blooms. It will be a real encouragement to others without blooms, particularly at this time of year – so thanks to both of you for joining in.

The arranger was absolutely right … unfortunately the print is so lovely I didn’t know which to look at. The Nandina (for me) was the really inspired, discerning touch in this lovely arrangement. And so nice to see much-maligned Aucuba ‘Crotonifolia’ getting it’s due and taking a bit of a spotlight!

Thanks, Cathy. I was not aware of a bad reputation for ‘Crotonifolia.’ When it didn’t do well in the border, I moved it into the woods (as mentioned) and it has been a perfect inhabitant. I will be looking for future opportunities to pair an arrangement with an art piece.

A Walk in the Garden

Please join me for A Walk in the Garden: a way of sharing gardening observations, spiced I hope with a dash of experience, a dollop of opinion, a slice of irreverence, a spoonful of love for plants, and a cup full of memories.

Download Guess What’s in My Garden!

My ebook is available for iPad/iPhone, Kindle, and Nook. Click on the appropriate link below.